Hello all!
So, yesterday was Zone Conference. It was really good. President talked about the nature of Christ and bodies and stuff, one of those “open your minds” type things. My mind was not really further opened, but I did have some things confirmed, which is always nice. An elder who went home a year ago came to the Conference to tell the Latins to learn English. He is now a supervisor working for Microsoft, just because he speaks English. I talked to him later and all he is really doing is supervising people helping people upgrade from Vista to Windows 7.
Things are going well. Seems like I’ll be in Malargüe for a while, possibly until the end of my mission. This is fine. I like the town, but the branch is tugging at my nerves. Nothing I can really do but try to help them. It is really amazing that the end is so near. 3 and a half transfers left. Wow. Just gotta keep on chugging.
The Jerusalem Center application is finally in. Huzzah! I also sent my normal BYU ecclesiastical endorsement in, so now I just have to send in the special Jerusalem Center one and get the rest of the application filled out. Hopefully things will work out.
Hope all is well with you.
Love,
Will
P.S. Next week for P-day we're going spelunkingish in the Caverna de las Brujas (The Cavern of the Witches)
January 25, 2010
January 18, 2010
Chivos!!!
Hello again!
Well, it’s been quite the week here in Malargüe. We started off by going to the Chivo festival for P-day. I’m including some pictures. (If you hover the mouse over the pic you’ll find a lovely caption describing the picture) There was some fun dance competition going on. We got to see some Malambo and some Samba. It was very fun to watch some gauchos (or at least people dressed like gauchos) dance. Then we went and ate a chivo. Goat is actually rather good, but if I had to eat it every day I’d get sick of it really fast. It’s very greasy. It was one of the better P-days I’ve had. Sunday was the world record breaking chivo cook-off. They roasted 1011 goats at the same time. We stopped by to take pictures on the way to lunch. I would love to come back some day to go to the whole festival, especially since pretty much everything happens between 9PM and 5AM.
Not too much else going on. We had some investigators at Church, which is very exciting. It’s very pretty in Malargüe, and I’m getting some nice landscapes. Very interesting cloud formations, too.
Still no Jerusalem application available, but all I have left for my BYU reapplication is the ecclesiastical endorsement. Perhaps instead of emailing, I could fax. That may be easier from this side, I’m not sure. I’ll see what I can do once the thing actually becomes available.
Well, that’s all for this week.
Love,
Will
Well, it’s been quite the week here in Malargüe. We started off by going to the Chivo festival for P-day. I’m including some pictures. (If you hover the mouse over the pic you’ll find a lovely caption describing the picture) There was some fun dance competition going on. We got to see some Malambo and some Samba. It was very fun to watch some gauchos (or at least people dressed like gauchos) dance. Then we went and ate a chivo. Goat is actually rather good, but if I had to eat it every day I’d get sick of it really fast. It’s very greasy. It was one of the better P-days I’ve had. Sunday was the world record breaking chivo cook-off. They roasted 1011 goats at the same time. We stopped by to take pictures on the way to lunch. I would love to come back some day to go to the whole festival, especially since pretty much everything happens between 9PM and 5AM.
Not too much else going on. We had some investigators at Church, which is very exciting. It’s very pretty in Malargüe, and I’m getting some nice landscapes. Very interesting cloud formations, too.
Still no Jerusalem application available, but all I have left for my BYU reapplication is the ecclesiastical endorsement. Perhaps instead of emailing, I could fax. That may be easier from this side, I’m not sure. I’ll see what I can do once the thing actually becomes available.
Well, that’s all for this week.
Love,
Will
January 11, 2010
Transfer news
Hello.
Not much to say this week. Still working. Got to send the Branch trimestral report and tithing settlement yesterday. That was exciting. Other than that, a lot of walking around.
This week is the national Chivo festival. They cook a messload of goats. They’re going for a world record of 1011 goats this year. It should be fun.
Transfers news is that I stayed in Malargüe with Elder Tillery. We should have fun this transfer too.
It seems that the Jerusalem application is still not yet available, but BYU has got stuff for my readmission process going. I’m not sure if going to the Jerusalem Center means not going to BYU or not. I’ll try to figure these things out.
Love,
Will
Not much to say this week. Still working. Got to send the Branch trimestral report and tithing settlement yesterday. That was exciting. Other than that, a lot of walking around.
This week is the national Chivo festival. They cook a messload of goats. They’re going for a world record of 1011 goats this year. It should be fun.
Transfers news is that I stayed in Malargüe with Elder Tillery. We should have fun this transfer too.
It seems that the Jerusalem application is still not yet available, but BYU has got stuff for my readmission process going. I’m not sure if going to the Jerusalem Center means not going to BYU or not. I’ll try to figure these things out.
Love,
Will
January 4, 2010
Happy New Year!
Hellos again!
Not too much going on this week. Transfers are in and not right now, it’s pretty hectic. So, I don’t really know what’s going on. I’m sure I’m staying in Malargüe, but I was sure last time, too. We’ll find out soon enough. Maybe even before I’m done writing.
Well, I just checked on the Jerusalem application and… It’s not available yet. Gack. Oh well, hopefully next week.
I told you somewhat about the branch at Christmas. It’s not a really fun group of people to work with. Nobody wants to take responsibility for even giving a tiny talk at a baptism, let alone a calling. The only one who tries to work is the EQ President who is too old and sick to do anything. It’s frustrating. But I try to do what I can. The problem is that I don’t know exactly what is within my limits to do.
Our best investigators move to another area today . Sad day. But, I’m sure they’ll get baptized, and that’s what ultimately matters, right?
Other than that, the search continues. We don’t really have anyone else who is progressing, but miracles are always possible.
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side. Keep on the sunny side of life.
Wow, I haven’t heard that song in a while even though I have it. Oh well.
Love,
Will
P.S. Not much went on for New Years. An investigator invited us over for dinner when she found out that we weren't going anywhere.
Not too much going on this week. Transfers are in and not right now, it’s pretty hectic. So, I don’t really know what’s going on. I’m sure I’m staying in Malargüe, but I was sure last time, too. We’ll find out soon enough. Maybe even before I’m done writing.
Well, I just checked on the Jerusalem application and… It’s not available yet. Gack. Oh well, hopefully next week.
I told you somewhat about the branch at Christmas. It’s not a really fun group of people to work with. Nobody wants to take responsibility for even giving a tiny talk at a baptism, let alone a calling. The only one who tries to work is the EQ President who is too old and sick to do anything. It’s frustrating. But I try to do what I can. The problem is that I don’t know exactly what is within my limits to do.
Our best investigators move to another area today . Sad day. But, I’m sure they’ll get baptized, and that’s what ultimately matters, right?
Other than that, the search continues. We don’t really have anyone else who is progressing, but miracles are always possible.
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side. Keep on the sunny side of life.
Wow, I haven’t heard that song in a while even though I have it. Oh well.
Love,
Will
P.S. Not much went on for New Years. An investigator invited us over for dinner when she found out that we weren't going anywhere.
December 28, 2009
Gospel Principles
Hellos.
So, like Dad said, not much to say after having talked on Friday. Nothing really new. Some exciting news on investigator fronts, though. Carlos Santana came to Church. His wife and children did not because of illness or something of the sort. He really enjoyed it. Turns out that he is the former boss of about half of the active members, so he felt at home. The lesson in Gospel Priciples was “Exaltation” and proved interesting. Carlos was there, as were an investigator of the other Elders and a young couple that has been baptized for a few months and just come here for the Summer. I was watching Carlos carefully to see how he would react to things in the lesson such as “in exaltation we become gods” and “God was once a man like us.” Some of those truly unique doctrines that are fun to find in the Gospel Principles book. He didn’t seem too upsetted by them, just had a look of “wow, I’ve never thought of that before.” I hope we can get him and his family baptized before he moves.
We have another investigator named Marcia. Her mother recently died and she has found our meetings very helpful. She even told us that she knows the Church is true and that she wants to be baptized. She understands that you have to go to Church first, though. This is the problem. She feels bad about going to Church because her mother died hating the Church. She said that one day she’ll get over that, but doesn’t know when. All we can do now is pray that that day is sooner than later.
I was very excited on Sunday when we got the new Gospel Principles manual. I’m so happy that it is half the size of the old one. I honestly don’t know how Priesthood/Relief Society will be studying it for two years. I checked the last lesson to see if there were many changes, and they cut down an 18-point list of things that you need to do to reach exaltation to 10 points. A happy change.
Well, that’s all for this week. Next week I may have transfers news.
Love,
Will
So, like Dad said, not much to say after having talked on Friday. Nothing really new. Some exciting news on investigator fronts, though. Carlos Santana came to Church. His wife and children did not because of illness or something of the sort. He really enjoyed it. Turns out that he is the former boss of about half of the active members, so he felt at home. The lesson in Gospel Priciples was “Exaltation” and proved interesting. Carlos was there, as were an investigator of the other Elders and a young couple that has been baptized for a few months and just come here for the Summer. I was watching Carlos carefully to see how he would react to things in the lesson such as “in exaltation we become gods” and “God was once a man like us.” Some of those truly unique doctrines that are fun to find in the Gospel Principles book. He didn’t seem too upsetted by them, just had a look of “wow, I’ve never thought of that before.” I hope we can get him and his family baptized before he moves.
We have another investigator named Marcia. Her mother recently died and she has found our meetings very helpful. She even told us that she knows the Church is true and that she wants to be baptized. She understands that you have to go to Church first, though. This is the problem. She feels bad about going to Church because her mother died hating the Church. She said that one day she’ll get over that, but doesn’t know when. All we can do now is pray that that day is sooner than later.
I was very excited on Sunday when we got the new Gospel Principles manual. I’m so happy that it is half the size of the old one. I honestly don’t know how Priesthood/Relief Society will be studying it for two years. I checked the last lesson to see if there were many changes, and they cut down an 18-point list of things that you need to do to reach exaltation to 10 points. A happy change.
Well, that’s all for this week. Next week I may have transfers news.
Love,
Will
December 21, 2009
Sun Fun
Hellos!
In the words of the Red Barron to Snoopy: “Merry Christmas my friend!” That song was stuck in my head this morning, by the way.
So, not too much happened this last week. The biggest news is that Elder Tillery has about finished his World of Warcraft Risk game. We play it on P-days and during the siesta sometimes. It’s pretty good; an interesting twist on Risk.
Other than that there was a lot of walking, and not a lot of teaching. This week is the Christmas party. That should be fun. And then, of course, I’ll be calling you guys on Friday. I will buy a phone card in Mendoza and use that to call, they don’t sell international cards in Malargüe for some reason. I’ll be calling at sometime during the afternoon, not exactly sure when. But, if you’re snowed in, you should be home anyway, right?
It’s getting hot here. I'm tanner than I've ever been. Mostly the sun is killing me, there is such little atmosphere here. That’s why one of the world’s most important observatories for studying cosmic rays is here. We’re actually going there this evening.
Not much else to talk about. Nothing really new here.
Love,
Will
In the words of the Red Barron to Snoopy: “Merry Christmas my friend!” That song was stuck in my head this morning, by the way.
So, not too much happened this last week. The biggest news is that Elder Tillery has about finished his World of Warcraft Risk game. We play it on P-days and during the siesta sometimes. It’s pretty good; an interesting twist on Risk.
Other than that there was a lot of walking, and not a lot of teaching. This week is the Christmas party. That should be fun. And then, of course, I’ll be calling you guys on Friday. I will buy a phone card in Mendoza and use that to call, they don’t sell international cards in Malargüe for some reason. I’ll be calling at sometime during the afternoon, not exactly sure when. But, if you’re snowed in, you should be home anyway, right?
It’s getting hot here. I'm tanner than I've ever been. Mostly the sun is killing me, there is such little atmosphere here. That’s why one of the world’s most important observatories for studying cosmic rays is here. We’re actually going there this evening.
Not much else to talk about. Nothing really new here.
Love,
Will
December 14, 2009
Oh Well
Hey all.
We had a decent week this week. We got four new investigators. One of them is Carlos Santana. No, he does not play the guitar. Unfortunately he and his wife are moving to another part this week, so we don’t get to baptize them. Sigh. They’re very interested and a whole family. I haven’t baptized one of those yet. Oh well, the important part is that they get baptized.
The other investigators are not so prepared. One amazing lady refuses to go to Church because of something in her past. Sadly, I don’t think I can help her get past it much. Then the other guy is the typical, probably won’t progress type, we’ll see.
Not much else going on. The Christmas party is next week, so that means fun sandwiched between two six-and-a-half hour trips. Oh well. That seems to be the phrase of the day: “oh well”.
I really can’t think of what else to say. One of the elders in San Rafael got Risk for Christmas. It’s a really weird version that looks rather communist.
As for Christmassy stuffs here, Argentina just does not have the Christmas Spirit at all, so no concerts or other such goodness. All there is is fake snow and santas all over the place. Just commercialism.
I plan on (tomorrow because today I’m in San Rafael) buying a copy of “Martín Fierro” that has a wooden cover. It costs about 70 dollars, but I’m going to try to work the price down. I figured that a nice copy of the only cultural thing to come out of Argentina would be a good souvenier. And it has an English translation in the back so you could read it if you wanted to (or if you could read the small print).
Love,
Will
We had a decent week this week. We got four new investigators. One of them is Carlos Santana. No, he does not play the guitar. Unfortunately he and his wife are moving to another part this week, so we don’t get to baptize them. Sigh. They’re very interested and a whole family. I haven’t baptized one of those yet. Oh well, the important part is that they get baptized.
The other investigators are not so prepared. One amazing lady refuses to go to Church because of something in her past. Sadly, I don’t think I can help her get past it much. Then the other guy is the typical, probably won’t progress type, we’ll see.
Not much else going on. The Christmas party is next week, so that means fun sandwiched between two six-and-a-half hour trips. Oh well. That seems to be the phrase of the day: “oh well”.
I really can’t think of what else to say. One of the elders in San Rafael got Risk for Christmas. It’s a really weird version that looks rather communist.
As for Christmassy stuffs here, Argentina just does not have the Christmas Spirit at all, so no concerts or other such goodness. All there is is fake snow and santas all over the place. Just commercialism.
I plan on (tomorrow because today I’m in San Rafael) buying a copy of “Martín Fierro” that has a wooden cover. It costs about 70 dollars, but I’m going to try to work the price down. I figured that a nice copy of the only cultural thing to come out of Argentina would be a good souvenier. And it has an English translation in the back so you could read it if you wanted to (or if you could read the small print).
Love,
Will
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